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Frankfurt Motor Show: European Premiere Of GMC Graphyte And World Debut For Opel Zafira CNG


September 2005
 Filed under: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATE Car News | GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATE Headlines

Vision: Zero Emissions

Frankfurt. The history of the automobile is also the history of the internal combustion engine – and of the search for alternative forms of power. Throughout its corporate history, the pioneering spirit of General Motors has been unstoppable. The Group has used rockets and turbines to power its cars, and its cars have even driven on the moon. Today, research at GM is focused on the vision of zero-emissions. Thanks to innovative fuel cell vehicles – and the interim hybrid propulsion phase – emissions-free mobility is fast becoming a reality.
At the GM Forum in Hall 8 at the Motor Show (September 15 – 25, 2005), General Motors will unveil its vision of the future of the automobile, with the GMC Graphyte hybrid vehicle and the Opel Zafira-based, fuel cell-powered GM HydroGen3 featuring prominently. Visitors to the stand will also be able to learn more about advances in propulsion technology that are already appearing on the market – for example in the new natural gas Opel Zafira 1.6 CNG (which will have its world debut at the Motor Show) or in the Saab 9-3 1.9 TiD sports station wagon with its environmentally friendly diesel power plant and particulate filter. In the interactive GM TechnoLab Workshops, visitors also have an opportunity to watch a combustion engine in action and to see up close how a diesel particulate filter works. In addition, they will be offered a unique journey through time to view the past, present and future of the automobile.

Environmental initiative: factory-fitted diesel particulate filter systems

For all Opel/Vauxhall, Cadillac and Saab models with 1.9-liter common-rail diesel engines and other diesel units, GM Powertrain has developed a maintenance-free Diesel Particulate Filter system (DPF). In some countries, this innovative factory-fitted exhaust gas after-treatment system comes already as standard. The intelligent environmental compatible solution does not require fuel additives, thereby avoiding disadvantages of previous systems. GM Powertrain´s DPF system is integrated in the electronic engine management system and operates without decreasing performance or increasing consumption. The cleaning process works together with a pre-catalytic converter close to the engine and an underfloor converter, effectively reducing exhaust emissions. In addition to soot particulates these include mainly hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO).

List of alternatives: models for natural gas, liquid petroleum gas and ethanol

The various GM brands offer country-specific models designed to run on the alternative fuels available in each particular country. For example, the brand new Opel Zafira 1.6 CNG and its Combo 1.6 CNG sister model feature the "monovalentplus" engine concept designed to achieve maximum efficiency with natural gas.

Numerous Chevrolet models, from the compact Kalos to the practical Tacuma/Rezzo vans, will run on LPG. With its 9-5 BioPower model, Saab is the first premium manufacturer in its Swedish home market to offer an engine that runs on ethanol, a bio fuel made from natural renewable sources.

Intermediate phase: hybrid technology combines electric and combustion power

General Motors and DaimlerChrysler are working together to develop a two-mode full hybrid system for use in GM, Chrysler Group and Mercedes Car Group vehicles. The system could support a range of applications, such as front- and rear-wheel drive automobiles, trucks and other vehicles. The technology is designed to improve acceleration while at the same time improving fuel economy and extending the range before refueling.

GM expects to introduce its two-mode hybrid system as early as the end of 2007 in its most popular large SUVs, the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon. The GMC Graphyte, to be shown for the first time in Europe at the Frankfurt Motor Show, will provide a preview of the technology. This concept vehicle is a refined, off-road-capable SUV fitted with the latest hybrid system using 25 percent less fuel than conventional SUVs.

With its sculpted design and elegant, metal-framed grille, the Graphyte exudes urban flair. The prototype was designed and built at the GM Advanced Design Studio in Coventry, England. The midsize Graphyte uses GM's multi-patented two-mode full hybrid system combined with a Vortec 5300 V-8 with Displacement on Demand (DoD) technology.

From the lab to the street: fuel cell technology in practice

It has taken General Motors just a few years to move its fuel cell technology out the lab and into practical applications. One such application is the Opel Zafira-based HydroGen3 with its compact vehicle architecture and a performance that has been refined in extensive trials.

In June this year, furniture maker IKEA partnered with Opel in the German government's Clean Energy Partnership Berlin (CEP) demonstration project in order to gain practical experience of the hydrogen-powered HydroGen3. A fuel cell vehicle of the type that comfortably won its category at the first “Rallye Monte Carlo Fuel Cell and Hybrid” in April this year is being used for regular deliveries to customers from the Berlin Spandau store.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) is the world’s largest automaker and employs 317,000 people worldwide. Founded in 1908, GM has been the global industry sales leader since 1931. It has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in 200 countries. In 2004, GM sold nearly 9 million vehicles, 4 percent more than in the previous year, and the second-highest total in the company’s history. The company has its headquarters in the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. For more information about GM and its products, please visit our media website: http://media.gm.com/eur or our customer website www.gm.com.

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